Best Songs of 2012

Hey,
It's almost 2013! Seriously, I cannot believe how quickly this year has flown by. As quickly as it has gone, we've had some incredible music come out this year. At the risk of sounding cheeky, can I say it may have been one of alternative music's best years? Granted, the crap on the radio was still crap ("Whistle", anyone?) but I think the alternative scene is improving and spreading into popular culture, maybe even just a little bit. I think fun. wins the award for best out-of-nowhere hit single and follow-up single with "We Are Young" and "Some Nights." I love seeing bands getting some validation, even it means I have to put up with obnoxious 12 year olds tweeting "OMG!!!! We R Young!" Yes, you are. You're 12.
Anyways, my intent was to do a 12 best songs of 2012 list, but there's just too many good ones, so I'm doing 15 best songs; I couldn't narrow it down!
Here is my list of the 15 Best Songs of 2012:

15."Relax My Beloved" by Alex Clare
14. "All Alone" by fun.
13. "Little Black Submarines" by The Black Keys
12. "Empty Party Rooms" by Minus the Bear
11. "Run Boy Run" by Woodkid
10."No Diggity" by Chet Faker
9."Body Electric" by Lana Del Rey
8. "Speak Up" by POP ETC.
7."Before the Dive" by St. Lucia
6."Holiday" by Electric Guest
5."Because I Know That I Can" by Andy Burrows
4."Demons" by Imagine Dragons
3."American Daydream" by Electric Guest
2."Handshake" by Two Door Cinema Club
1. "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest

15. "Relax My Beloved" by Alex Clare. Alex Clare gained notoriety for his song "Too Close," which blended blues and dub step seamlessly. However, I think it's safe to say that "Relax My Beloved" is a million times better. It combines his soulful vocals with that Sonny Moore-influenced sound in the background and sounds absolutely beautiful and almost raw in a strange way. The lyrics have captured my heart with such lines as "then maybe again/ we will weep like we've done a thousand time before," and many others. Great song.

14. "All Alone" by fun. I reviewed fun.'s album a while back, and I still am in love with "All Alone." Between the gentle instrumental intro, that ridiculously creative percussion line, one of the best lines of the year: "how do you cry/ with inanimate eyes," and Nate's powerful vocals, this remains one of the best songs off their album and another reason why I am proud to support these guys! They're awesome! :)

13. "Little Black Submarines" by the Black Keys. Ah, the Black Keys. I was angry with them at first for not putting their newest album on Spotify, but after actually listening to it; I understand why. It's too good to put on Spotify. I realize how pretentious that sounds, but seriously, listen to it and you'll see why. The Black Keys specialize in polished blues/ R&B and that perfectly describes track 13 on my list. "Little Black Submarines" showcases their dirty guitar licks, gravely vocals, and their talent of reviving music of the past (and doing an excellent job, if I say so myself).

12. "Empty Party Rooms" by Minus The Bear. I first listened to this band a few years ago when their label, Dangerbird, offered a free sampler off Amazon.com. The song was amazing and I keep coming back for more. And this band never disappoints. "Empty Party Rooms" has a very mellow tinge to it. Certainly, it is more laid-back than most of their usual stuff and I like it for that very reason. Critics tend to criticize (hence their title "critic") bands for experimenting and trying new stuff. I call bull. This song belongs on the album as much as the others and I love the chill sound. Still, it is a very complex song with beautiful guitar lines, heavenly background vocals, and Jake's capable voice carrying the song.

11. "Run Boy Run" by Woodkid. Woodkid is the musical alias of Yoann Lemoine, a French director. This is definitely a different track; I like different. :)  I like the strong lyrics, beautiful vocals, manic percussion, and the string section.

10. "No Diggity" by Chet Faker. "No Diggity" was super big back in the 1990's and Chet Faker put a really cool, grungy, emotional spin on it. Where the original feels sexy and all like "make it rain," this rendition is more vulnerable and honestly, more convincing. I believe him when he says he likes the way I "work it." Whatever that means. Additionally, his raspy, convincing vocals have won me over.

9. "Body Electric" by Lana Del Rey. I realize Lana is a slightly controversial choice, considering she is somewhat mainstream, but I think she is still holding onto her indie roots. This song is too intricate to get played on the radio and the lyrics area sickeningly deep, which means the song would get pushed aside so Lil Wayne and every other pop princess can sing about how much they like butts and sex. Mini rant aside, this song builds and climaxes perfectly, and Lana Del Rey's vocals are absolutely electric.

8. "Speak Up" by POP ETC. Formerly known as the Morning Benders, POP ETC is what would result if The Ready Set and Panic! At the Disco had a lovechild together. And a beautiful lovechild it is. I love the dreamy string section, slightly distorted vocals, and floating sensation of the verses that directly contrasts with the steadier bridge into the chorus. Very cool song.

7. "Before the Dive" by St Lucia. I remember highlighting this song about a month ago and I've yet to get it out of my head. Which, in my book, is the mark of a good song. St. Lucia's incredible talent really shines through the track, boasting a stunning orchestral section, a dangerously catchy intro, and poetic lyrics. Love it.

6."Holiday" by Electric Guest. The introduction of the song alone warrants getting placed on the list, but because of the creative guitars in the background and the line "she's a painted face," they earned spot number six. :)

5."Because I Know That I Can" by Andy Burrows- I love Andy Burrows.Based on how often I've reviewed him, I suppose that's fairly obvious. :) He has a convincing voice and is a talented songwriter. This song has a very "Condor El Pasa" by Simon and Garfunkel vibe and paired with Andy's voice it has won me over.

4."Demons" by Imagine Dragons. This song begins slowly and about 45 seconds into it, it just all goes "KAPOOOF!" I don't think that's a word. Regardless, the track is a beautiful concoction of forbidden love and the best use of a bass drum I've heard for quite some time.

3 ."American Daydream" by Electric Guest. I know this is the second song by the same band, but it's so good I felt like I had to highlight this one as well. The percussion gives the song a sort of monotonous feeling which enforces the lyrics "we keep going/don't stop running" and the distortion on Asas vocals also increases the dragging feeling. Still, I think it's one of the best songs on the album, simply because they dared to be different.

2."Handshake" by Two Door Cinema Club. I love these British bands. They bring something interesting to the music scene, not that American/European bands don't. Don't get me wrong. But, like a lot of other British bands, TDCC fits into their own little genre. They're not quite solid Alt rock, nor are they pop, but a strangely delicious blend of the two. As well, TDCC writes some of the best lyrics: "She said the devil will want you back/ And you'll never find love in an open hand/ Shut your eyes, so you see I'm there/ And know you'll always have this if you stay this mad." So good.

1. "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest- Yes, another Electric Guest song. They are one of my favorite bands and their album Mondo maybe one of the best debut albums ever. This song earns the number one spot for five reasons 1) Asa's falsetto is incredible the way it soars and makes the song really distinct, 2) That drum line at the beginning...that's the kind of stuff that made Darren King, the drummer of MuteMath, a legend, 3) the keyboard the complements the other instrumentation,4) the infectious melody, and 5) The lyrics! The lyrics make the song. A truly fantastic track.

Thank you for reading this and every other post. You guys rock and I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Until then,
Bella

Beacon Is a Solid Follow-Up Album

Hey,

This week Two door Cinema Club dropped their new album “Beacon.” Much like last week’s post, I am picking my top three songs. I realize I did five last week, but I’m doing three this week only because these three really stand out. Speaking of last week’s post, I was really excited to see that Imagine Dragons’ album is in the Top Ten on iTunes. I am so excited for that band. They are very talented and it’s great to see them get the recognition they deserve.

                Anyways, here are the top three songs from Beacon:

 

3. Sleep Alone. I realize I highlighted this song a couple of weeks ago, but it truly is one of the standout songs on the album. The distinct vocals, complex, poetic lyrics, and that guitar line I can’t erase from my mind all contribute to the track’s reappearance on my blog. J “He needs no army/ where he’s going/ cuz he knows” is such a great line. Their songwriting skills have truly improved—not that their debut album’s lyrics were poor—and it is always exciting to see an artist/artists mature.

2.  Sun- When a band opens a track with “Ocean blue/what have I done to you/cut so deep/yet growing through and through,” I think it’s fairly easy to see why it earns a special place on my playlist. J My other favorite line is 'Over and over many setting suns/ I have run, I have waited for the rain to come/ When through that mist I see the shape of you/ And I know, and I know that I'm in love with you.” Factor in that steady, bumping drum line and that bluesy riff, and I’m in love. Solid effort.

1. Pyramid- It was a difficult decision to decide who should get the top spot, between “Sun” and “Pyramid,” but the slightly darker lyrics, that guitar riff in the background, the percussion that refuses to settle into mediocrity, and the somber verses switching into the manic chorus. This song brings back beautiful memories of MuteMath. That is as high of a compliment as I can offer, truly.

So,  I am seeing MuteMath on Tuesday, September 18^th, so that means I will be giving a nice little summary of the concert, like I’ve done in the past. The week after that, I will do a post (like I have done for the last two weeks) about my favorite tracks from Minus the Bear’s new album.

                Thank you for reading!

                ~Bellla

Imagine Dragons "Night Visions" Review

Hey,

This week, Night visions by one of my new favorite bands Imagine Dragons came out. You’ve probably heard their song “It’sTime” and I’ve highlighted “Radioactive on this blog, but their other stuff—that hasn’t received much attention—is absolutely brilliant. I can honestly say, right next to MuteMath’s “Odd Soul” and Fun’s “Some Nights” this is one of the best albums of 2012. Great stuff. So, this week, I am picking my five favorite songs from Night Visions.

As always, in no particular order:

Demons by Imagine Dragons- Absolutely stunning. Dan’s vocals remind me of a band I used to frequently listen to, Seabird, with a little more emotion. This is, without a doubt, the best song on the album. It features very dominant lyrics, a memorable chorus, and strong vocals. Demons is everything I love about this band. I can visualize exactly what they’re trying to say, almost in music video form. Every time that I listen to this song, I get goosebumps. That, I believe, is what music was intended to be.

Tiptoe by Imagine Dragons- Each song’s lyrics just keep getting better and better. I read a review on Amazon the other day that said exactly what I was thinking. None of the songs on here are “filler tracks,” in that, each one has a weighty message and beautiful symbolism woven throughout And this song is a true example of that statement. I love the very 1980’s synth lines, the melodic chorus, and the bass. “Nobody else can take me higher,” than these lyrics. J

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons- I’ve talked about this song before, but I felt it was a sin ( but not a tragedy…PATD reference) to talk about it again. From the haunting vocals, in-your-face beat, post-Apoctalyptic lyrics, to Dan’s strong vocals, practically hollering the chorus, this song is the reason I started listening to the rest of Imagine Dragon’s other music—thank goodness for the Electric Guest radio station on Pandora! I can honestly say I feel it in my bones, too. J

Bleeding Out by Imagine Dragons- The title sounds like a typical Friday night for emo kids, but the lyrics are incredibly deep. They use power visual imagery to convey their emotions as well as letting the music express the pain of, I assume, a broken heart, with the background vocals, heavy beats, and an integral synthesizer line. A very moving song.

Amsterdam by Imagine Dragons- I love the soft, swelling instrumentation at the beginning, Dan’s initially calm vocals, and the beautiful lyrics. This track cements the band as an important facet of alternative rock. Breathtaking.

 So, that’s it for this week. Make sure to support this great group of guys by buying their music. They truly deserve it.

Until next week,

Bella

I'd Like to Thank Twitter and Pandora For My Music Collection

Hey,

So, I realized it's been a while since I posted about my ever-changing music playlist. Without further ado....

Radioactive by Imagine dragons- If you watched the Olympic opening ceremony and saw the Chicago Fire commercial (I didn’t) or listen to the radio, you’ve probably heard of Imagine Dragons. Their big song right now is “It’s Time,” which I think is a good song, but I am head over heels for “Radioactive.” This song has everything I desire in music: a soft, twinkling guitar intro, equally quiet harmonies in the background, an attention-grabbing percussion section, a powerful vocalist, dark lyrics “this is it/ the apocalypse…/welcome to the new age…/I’m radioactive,” and a song that never quits, going full force right until the last second. One beast of a song. I’m impressed.

Green Grass by I Am Arrows- Pandora is a music lover’s best friend. Without that website, I would not have discovered this song. I know that this song is not exactly “new,” but, it doesn’t matter; it’s still fantastic two years later. The band is a side project of Andy Burrows, the ex-drummer of Razorlight, and I absolutely love it. I admire Andy’s vocal range, the simplistic (yet perfect) lyrics, and the rhythm section is great. Nicely done, dudes. J

Don’t Wake The Lion by Joy Valencia- Again, I really love twitter. Thanks to that helpful resource, I found out about Joy Valencia. This song is very pop-rooted and I could totally imagine this song being played on the radio. It’s crazy catchy and I’ve had the chorus stuck in my head all week. Infectious melodies coupled with poetic lyrics and Joy’s simply amazing voice makes for a great discovery. Super good. J As well, the music video is really cute. Check it out sometime!

Ten Cent Pistol by The Black Keys- I’ve started listening to these guys again. Unfortunately, I did not stay up on their tour schedule and they just came to Iowa, but I found out the day before. Shoot. Nonetheless, these guys make gritty blues relevant again. The guitar lick at the beginning lures the listener in, Dan Auerbach’s vocals never fail to make me fall in love, and of course, Patrick works miracles on his drum set. The right amount of distortion, when down in taste, can really complement a song. I think it’s safe to say The Black Keys have mastered that formula. Sweet.

 The Only Way by Gotye- This song comes from my favorite Gotye album, “Like Drawing Blood,” which is finally available on Spotify, for our listening pleasure. J I like this track because of Gotye’s warbling, distinctive vocals, that percussion (it’s amazing! It completely fits the tone of the song perfectly), the minor key, the various instruments in the background, and it’s slightly jazzy, r &b sound, melded with his omnipresent alternative roots. Great song!

Until next week,

Bella